RCPod tells its members to stop providing PRP injections
Categories
Clinical
The Royal College of Podiatry (RCPod) is instructing its members to stop providing platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy to patients with immediate effect.
The RCPod is instructing any members who undertake PRP injections to suspend their use while an urgent review of information from the Medical Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA) takes place.
This advice comes after the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) discussed PRP and decided that it is classed as an unlicensed human medicine in the UK.
The College’s Clinical Senate and Medicines and Medical Devices Committees will meet by Monday to discuss this. The RCPod will issue further guidance and advice to its members after Monday 12 June.
PRP use is subject to human medicines legislation. There is no legal or regulatory framework that allows podiatrists to use PRP in practice. Using it requires specific marketing authorisation and manufacturing licenses and podiatrists are not exempt from these requirements. Because of this, podiatrists cannot provide PRP to patients and this practice must stop with immediate effect.
This advice comes after the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) discussed PRP and decided that it is classed as an unlicensed human medicine in the UK.
The College’s Clinical Senate and Medicines and Medical Devices Committees will meet by Monday to discuss this. The RCPod will issue further guidance and advice to its members after Monday 12 June.
PRP use is subject to human medicines legislation. There is no legal or regulatory framework that allows podiatrists to use PRP in practice. Using it requires specific marketing authorisation and manufacturing licenses and podiatrists are not exempt from these requirements. Because of this, podiatrists cannot provide PRP to patients and this practice must stop with immediate effect.
Dr Paul Chadwick, Interim Chief Executive and Clinical Director said:All podiatrists need to stop preparing, injecting, or using PRP therapy with patients. The RCPod is issuing this instruction to protect its members and to ensure that they practise lawfully.
“The MHRA has said that it classses PRP as a medicine when it is used by podiatrists. Podiatrists do not have an exemption from the necessary licencing and authorisations required to be able to use PRP. Podiatry and podiatrists are not part of the legal and regulatory frameworks to be able to continue to use PRP.”